mrsmuffin

Are you guys still moving here to the DFW area? Don't be fooled, we don't REALLY have seasons!!

MousePotato

And the hijack continues! Sorry!

Yes, indeed, we are moving somewhere east of Dallas (perhaps I should make an official "moving thread"). Husband started his new job in Garland yesterday. We are going to look at a house in Terrell, I think, and some around Kaufman. Moving to the country (no peaches, thanks) where I can finally keep horses again (because 24 mouths to feed just isn't enough).

I know Dallas doesn't have "real" seasons, but it gets both hotter and colder up there than down here. The true yankees would not consider Dallas winter legitimate, but to someone who has been down here for 16 years.... Well, let's just say we had an "Arctic Chill" last winter. It was all over the news. Schools and businesses closed. People stocked up on bottled water and bought generators. They hunkered down like a Cat 5 hurricane was about to make landfall in Galveston. I went to work anyway and saw TWO PATCHES of ice on the bridge over Lake Woodlands! They weren't even in the lanes, but the city shut down anyway!

So.... I figure it will be something of an adjustment. I know you get ice storms up there sometimes. And (sorta back on topic) I'm guessing the tap water may not be a steady 78-80 degrees all year round!

mrsmuffin

Last part of the hijack, I promise!!! You are right, in the winter I do have to use some water from the hot side of the tap in the dead of winter. On the flip side, I don't remember the last time that there was an ice storm that kept me away from work, although we usually have one that gives the kids a day off of school and I AM a workaholic!!

BigJoe

Christian Patti

those are my winter roads with 6 foot snowbanks lol


and to bigjoe, whats your ammonia nitrite and nitrate? if your sure its not the temp than thats the only thing that immediately comes to mind.

MousePotato

Wow! What's all that white stuff? Do you have a fungus?!? (I crack me up!)

Back on topic, I wonder if BigJoe's water contains a lot of salt or something...? I have been told that's the reason I can't keep peace lillies alive at my house. The fish are fine, the garden grows, but every peace lily I get turns black and dies.

I don't know about the low pH issue. Mine is 8.0 straight out of the tap.

BigJoe

i intend to get that tested either sometime this week or weekend... i gotta go get smt for my plants before they all die... i'm assuming my nitrates are low again because my plants are starting to die as the were thriving before... i haven't been able t test for a while on nitrates/ites or amonia as all i had were strips... and even those are out now... i can't find a API master kit anywhere less than 30 dollars except online where they have it on sale but i don't think petsart will match an online sale...

jdhef

From what I hear, PetSmart will price match on-line prices. It never hurts to ask. The worse they can do is no.

BigJoe

what about some kind of rock commonly available for fresh water will any raise it? or driftwood or would either of these drop it even further? i am adding lava rock now is that going to affect it?

MousePotato

My understanding is that driftwood will lower your pH whereas Texas holey rock or crushed coral substrate will raise it.

Lava rock will cause magma to come bubbling up from beneath the glass. Just kidding. I'm not sure about lava rock.

sirdarksol

Driftwood will only lower pH if the water possesses very little buffer. I have such hard water that the tanins in the driftwood have to chew through a ton of calcium before they can start lowering the pH. (simplistic explanation, but it works)

BigJoe

what about adding a piece of regular limestone from the side of a road? of course i would clean it first but i was told it will make it more basic.... but will it jump up too high? what if the source of the acid is gone now that i have thrown away the plants that were decaying? i also heard regular baking powder will raise it and won't be harmful to fish